Improvement in combined forks and skimmers



"A. B. Non.

- Combined Fork and Skimmer.

Patented June 29,1875.

yignmvejg sfi vya wn/ m 645 ATTORNEYS THE GRAPHIC C0.P OTO-LITH.39&4 PARK PLACLNA' LNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON B. NOTT, OF FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF PART OF HIS RIGHT TO D. FRAWLEY, WILLIAM J. FRAWLEY, G. H. BOWEN, AND

WILLIAM ROUNSVILLE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED FORKS AND SKIMMERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,117, dated June 29, 1875; application filed December 26, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AARON B. No'rT, of Fairhaven, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Forks and Skimmers 5 and I do herebydeclare that the follow ing is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figurel of the drawingis a representation of a bottom view of my combined fork and skimmer. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a top view, with the skimmer folded back.

This invention has relation to improvements in culinary implements; and the nature of the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement, in connection with a fork, of a skimmer pivoted to the shank of the same, so that when thrown forward the prongs of the fork shall serve as a support for the skimmer, thereby adapting it for use for all purposes to which such devices are commonly applied, and when thrown back against the shank shall leave the prongs exposed, and in a state to be used for any suitable purpose.

In the annexed drawings, A designates a metallic fork, of the usual well-known form and dimensions, in connection with which I propose to show the use and construction of my improved culinary implement. a designates a slot, which is cut longitudinally through the shank b of this fork, through which is passed and into which is pivoted the shank c of a cup-shaped skimmer, B, as shown at t' in Fig. 2. The free end of this shank is cam-shaped, as shown at p in Fig. 2, and is adapted to engage with the free end of a metallic spring, s, rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the heel e of the fork, so that when the skimmer is in the position shown either in Figs. lor 3 it shall be there held against dis placement, thereby adapting the implement to be conveniently used either as a fork or as a skimmer, according to the needs of housekeepers. When skimmer B is in the position shown in Fig. l-that is to say,when the lower convex part thereof is resting upon the upper concavity of the prongs j of the fork-the latter afford an adequate and reliable support for the said skimmer, and give it sufficient strength to allow it to be used for any of the purposes to which such devices are usually applied, without danger of being broken off. An examination ofFig. 2 will show that when the skimmer is turned up against the shank of the fork it is entirely out of the way of the prongs j, thereby converting the skimmer above described into an effective fork, which -may be used to perform any of the functions of such a device.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Ihe fork A, having a slot, 01-, in its handle, in combination with the perforated skimmer B, pivoted in said slot, and provided with a shank, 0, having a cam, p, and spring, 8, sub stantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

AARON B. NOTT. 

